Fishing with Rod Discussion Forum

Fishing in British Columbia => Fishing Reports => Members' Fishing Reports => Topic started by: fishingbuddha on July 29, 2011, 09:41:58 PM

Title: Shuswap Lake, July 28th & 29th 2011: Large bows at Shuswap
Post by: fishingbuddha on July 29, 2011, 09:41:58 PM
I just got back from a two day fishing trip on the shuswap and I think I found a new favourite fishing lake. Over the years I have been up in this area for camping and houseboating but never thought about fishing it because it is so big and very crowded. Took off with my father in law for two days of fishing on this lake because we heard that others were catching some fish. Decided to try our luck but didn't now what to expect or how to really fish it. At first we tried some trolling gear and spoons with not much luck only hooking into some smaller kokanee. After a bit of trial and error we finally found started to get some bigger fish on the Apex lure. At the end of the first day we ended up hooking into a lot of fish but landing 6 kokanee, four large rainbows and one large laker that was 52 cms long. Oh yeah also a large pike minnow that I hooked on dragging a large fly. The biggest fish of on the first day was a 4.5 lber that was 24 inches long and 14 inches round.
On day two and within the first two hours we ended up hooking into about 5 rainbows landing a couple along with 6 kokanee. The larges rainbow this time was 6.5 lbs and 25 inches long.
Almost all fish were caught on the apex lure between 60ft and as shallow as just trolling it on the surface.
Apparently a friend of mine also says you can hook into springs as well at this time of the year. This would explain the large fish we were marking periodically.
Most of our rainbows were either caught in the morning or the evening. The first day we put a full day of fishing in, starting at 6:30am and finishing at 9pm (non stop). Once I get home from my holidays, I will post some pics of the fish caught.
I enjoyed this fishery very much and would even go to say that it was one of my favourite places to fish to date (minus queen charlotte steelhead, thompson steelheading and dry fly fishing  for large rainbows (10lbs+) on an unamed caribou river.
Will be going back again soon to hook into a ten lber....i hope!

Still hoping to hit the Thompson river for some  dry fly action, Kidd lake for some lake fishing and then heading to my favourite river in the caribou for a five days of dry fly fishing!
Title: Re: Shuswap Lake, July 28th & 29th 2011: Large bows at Shuswap
Post by: Hooks_of_Fury on July 30, 2011, 03:30:45 PM
good info here thx ;D
Title: Re: Shuswap Lake, July 28th & 29th 2011: Large bows at Shuswap
Post by: troutbreath on July 30, 2011, 09:43:49 PM
Almost sounds like the fishing is two months late this year on Shuswap. :-\ Best to make the best of the late early summer. I'll soon find out.
Title: Re: Shuswap Lake, July 28th & 29th 2011: Large bows at Shuswap
Post by: chronic_topdawg on August 04, 2011, 12:07:49 PM
Rookie question but.  What do you use to keep ur lure at 60feet.  Downriggers?   Or a three way swiivel with weight n leader.
Title: Re: Shuswap Lake, July 28th & 29th 2011: Large bows at Shuswap
Post by: fishingbuddha on August 05, 2011, 08:33:58 PM
Used downrigger but also caught a lot just trolling leaded line.
Title: Re: Shuswap Lake, July 28th & 29th 2011: Large bows at Shuswap
Post by: fishingbuddha on August 05, 2011, 08:34:37 PM
Used a mooching reel which was fun
Title: Re: Shuswap Lake, July 28th & 29th 2011: Large bows at Shuswap
Post by: Sandman on August 06, 2011, 06:29:42 PM
Treat it like fishing in the chuck, if no down rigger is handy, a 4 oz swiveled kidney lead and about 25 pulls would put you at 60 feet.  Tie on an apex lure and troll slowly to keep your line at about a 45° angle.
Title: Re: Shuswap Lake, July 28th & 29th 2011: Large bows at Shuswap
Post by: chronic_topdawg on August 06, 2011, 10:43:16 PM
Treat it like fishing in the chuck, if no down rigger is handy, a 4 oz swiveled kidney lead and about 25 pulls would put you at 60 feet.  Tie on an apex lure and troll slowly to keep your line at about a 45° angle.
Headin up tommorow thats some solid advice.  Bein a budget fisherman.  Ill let you know how things go.
Title: Re: Shuswap Lake, July 28th & 29th 2011: Large bows at Shuswap
Post by: matthawkins on August 08, 2011, 03:21:23 PM
I'm a newb on here and to fishing. No boat yet... but heading up to Shuswap in a few weeks (Herald Provincial Park) and looking for places to cast from shore with the kids. Any suggestions? Thanks for any help.
Title: Re: Shuswap Lake, July 28th & 29th 2011: Large bows at Shuswap
Post by: newsman on August 11, 2011, 02:34:59 PM
I have fished the Shwap for 20 years with my rellies, shore ops are limited. Early morning and evening if at all. Lots of pile minnow if just want to catch fish. The better options are around the Adams and Little River.
Title: Re: Shuswap Lake, July 28th & 29th 2011: Large bows at Shuswap
Post by: matthawkins on August 11, 2011, 11:33:16 PM
Thanks for the info! Much appreciated!
Title: Pictures from Shuswap/Wood Lake Trips
Post by: fishingbuddha on August 12, 2011, 10:16:15 PM
As promised here are some pics from 9 successful days fishing on the shuswap and wood lake in the okanagan.
First Picture of a nice size kokanee caught by my son.
(http://i69.photobucket.com/albums/i41/jhigo/IMG_7286.jpg)

My daughters first kokanee(http://i69.photobucket.com/albums/i41/jhigo/IMG_7285.jpg)

Father in laws kokanee
(http://i69.photobucket.com/albums/i41/jhigo/IMG_7283.jpg)

Nice kokanee
(http://i69.photobucket.com/albums/i41/jhigo/IMG_7343.jpg)

Five days fishing = 15 kokanee all between 1.5-2lbs

Excellent fishing on shuswap
(http://i69.photobucket.com/albums/i41/jhigo/IMG_7363.jpg)

First Rainbow over 50cm
(http://i69.photobucket.com/albums/i41/jhigo/IMG_7347.jpg)

My first ever laker
(http://i69.photobucket.com/albums/i41/jhigo/IMG_7349.jpg)

My second laker
(http://i69.photobucket.com/albums/i41/jhigo/IMG_7363.jpg)

Nice Rainbow
(http://i69.photobucket.com/albums/i41/jhigo/IMG_7351.jpg)

Largest rainbow 7 lbs (although it seemed bigger)
(http://i69.photobucket.com/albums/i41/jhigo/IMG_7356.jpg)

Great shuswap view
(http://i69.photobucket.com/albums/i41/jhigo/IMG_7353.jpg)

Just got back from a fantastic 4 weeks which started off at Deception Pass in Washington on Whitby Island.
This is a great place to camp with lots of fishing opportunities. There is a lake called Cranberry which a local tells me has some monster Brown trout. Last year I hooked into a lot of small rainbows on the fly. There is also another place called pass lake.
You can crab from the ocean beach side and fish for smelts, rock cod and salmon.
This year I only fished off one of the docks with my kids and niece. We hooked into a lot of smelt and herring but caught a nice size ungeoness crab.

Next time I come here i am going to bring my crab trap and rock cod gear.!

After Deception Pass I situated myself in Kelowna where I was able to get out and hit Wood Lake and Shuswap Lake on several times each.


Title: Re: Pictures from Shuswap/Wood Lake Trips
Post by: Bently on August 12, 2011, 10:38:48 PM
Two thumbs up Buddha, the smiles tell everything, great pics man !!
Title: Re: Pictures from Shuswap/Wood Lake Trips
Post by: skaha on August 13, 2011, 08:23:08 AM
-great story and a lotta "firsts", didn't take you long to dial into the interior lake fishing.
-fishing with the family.... can't beat it... fish to the boat... a bonus.